Printing-telegraph system



P. M. 'RAINEY.

PRINTING TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

' APPLICATION FILED MAYEI 191s.

1,380,6"Y9 Patnted June 7, 1921.

UNITED sures PATENT OFFICE.

PAUL.M. RAINEY, OF GLEN RIDGE, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR 'I'O WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY, INCORPORATED, NEW YORK, N. "L, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

PRINTING-TELEGRAPH SYSTEM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 7, 1921.

Application filed May 8, 1918. Serial No. 233,288.

To all whom it may concern. I

Be it known that 1, PAUL M. RAINEY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Glen Ridge, in the county of Essex, State of New Jersey, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Printing-Telegraph Systems, of which the following is a full, clear, concise, and exact description.

This invention relates to printing telegraph systems, and particularly to one 1n which ready intercommunication may be established between selected ones of a plurality of stations on one line.

It has for its object to provide a simple, reliable and economical system in which an operator at one station may selectively establish communication with another station, transmit message impulse combinations over the line to be suitably recorded at the selected station, and disconnect said station at will.

In accordance with this object, the invention comprises a suitable selective mechanism which is interposed between the receiving apparatus at each station and the line. This selective mechanism responds to impulses sent over the line and when a particular signal is received, closes a break in the circuit leading to the receiving apparatus and holds it closed during the reception of signals to be recorded, until a release signal is received which causes the selective mechanisms to open the break in the receiver circuit.

This selective mechanism at each station may be actuated by impulses sent over the line from a suitable key which is adapted to transmit any desired number or combination of rapidly recurring impulses. A transmitting key and a selective mechanism is located at each station so that complete intercommunication is afforded.

The invention is illustratedv in the drawing which is a diagrammatic circuit representation of the system operated in accordance with this invention.

As illustrated in the drawing, the system comprises a transmitting and receiving apparatus at each station, which are designed to operate on the Baudot code. The transmitting mechanism comprises means for sending impulses by direct keyboard action or by means of a perforated tape. The receiving apparatus includes a printer of any suitable construction and also means whereby the receiving operator may interrupt the transmitting circuit to signal the transmitting station for one purpose or another.

The invention will more clearly be understood from the following description of the operation of the system.

At each station there is provided a keyboard transmitting mechanism l, and a tape transmitting mechanism 2, of any suitable type. Each of these mechanisms is adapted by means of a switch mechanism 3, to be associated with a plurality of relays 11-15. The provision of the switch mechanism affords means whereby one may transfer from direct to tape sending or vice versa- The tape mechanism is adapted to be actuated after each signal to step the tape forwardto the next perforated signal, by means of a magnet l. The relays 11-15 lock up when energized. Their release iscontrolled by relay 6. The tape mechanism 2, the keyboard mechanism 1 and the relays 1115 are also controlled by lockout relay 6 and controlling relay 7, as will hereinafter be described. The

systemillnstrated is designed to operate on the closed circuit principle. Consequently the relays 11-15 when energized are adapted to close the line circuit through the segments of a transmitting distributer 8, the arm 9 of which, when released, rotates, and when passover segments corresponding to the actuated relays completes the closure of theline circuit and transmits impulses to the line in accordance with the signal selected.

Tape transmission.

In'the position in which the switch 3 is shown in the drawing, the system is adapted for tape transmission. Assuming the tape is in operative position inthe transmitter, which may be of any well-known type, then certain contacts of the transmitter are moved from their normal position. When it is desired to start, a key 10' is sitions: battery, through the windings of the selected ones of relays 11-15, switch 3, through the selected contacts of tape trans niitter 2, wire 22, switch 3, left armature of lockout relay 6, left armature of keyboard relay 5, switch 3, wire 23, right armature of start relay 16 to ground. The selected. ones of relays 11-15 are locked up from battery, through their lower windings, keyboard relay 5, to ground at right arma ture of lockout relay 6. Relay 5 energizes and through its left armature breaks the circuit above'mentioned through the tape transmitter contacts and the upper wind ing of relays 11-15. As any of relays 11-15 lock up, potential is put on the selected segments of distributer 8 so that as arm 9 rotates the following circuit is closed: over loop through key 24, which during message transmission is closed, wire 25, through upper armatures of relays 1115 which are locked up, to the selected segments of distributor 8, through arm 9, to segment 26, wire 27, line relay 28, out on the loop again. When right armature of start relay 16 pulls up, another circuit is closed from ground at said armature over wire 29, through winding of start magnet 30 to battery. Magnet 30 pulls up and releases arm 9 which, under the influence of a suitable source of power rotates and closes the above mentioned circuits through the selected segments. t will be noted that in the normal position of arm 9, the brushes bear on segments 31, 26, 20 and 21. The brushes bear normally on segments 31 and 26 so that the loop as above descrilcd is normally closed as will hereinafter be explained. They bear on segments 20 and 21 so that start relay 16 will hold up as soon as initially energized. As the brushes leave segment 31, the loop is opened and only closed thereafter, during the rotation, through the segments connected to relays 1115. As the brushes leave segment- 20, the holding circuit for start relay 16 is opened, permitting the circuit for start magnet 30 to be broken, whereby the armature thereof moves back into the path of arm 9 to stop it at the end of one revolution. As soon as the brushes connect segments 21 and 32, a circuit is closed to stop the tape ahead as follows: battery, segment 21, arm 9, segment 32, wire 33, switch 3, to ground through windings of tape stepping magnet l. As arm 9 connects Segments 21 and 35, a circuit to actuate lock relay 6 is closed as follows: battery, segments 21 and.

35, wire 36, winding of lockout relay 6 'to ground. Relay 6 pulls up its right armature and takes ground of'l relay 5, thereby opening the holding circuit for relays 11-15. The opening of the circuits causes the de energization of those relays which had been energized and causes their armatures to return to normal in preparation for the next signal combination. Asarm 9 connects segments 21 and 37, a circuit which energizes break relay 17 under certain conditions, is closed: battery, segment 21, segment 37, wire 38, relay 17, left armature of line relay 28 to ground. lhe armatures of line relay 28 will be grounded if the loop is open. If the operator at the receiving end, for instance, wishes to send a signal to the transmitter for any purpose, she opens the line by means of a suitable key (not shown). v Therefore, under this condition, when arm 9 at the transmitting end gets around and connects segments 21 and 37 as above mentioned, the circuit above mentioned is closed and break relay 17 is energized, pulling up its armatures. At its left armature it opens the energizing circuit for start relay 16 so that the start magnet 30 cannot be energized as long as the line is opened. Consequently, the rotation of arm 9 ceases. Through its right armature the break relay 17 closes a circuit from battery through key 39, right armature of relay 17, wire 40 to a suitable signaling device 11.

As arm 9 connects segments 20 and 21 and 31 and 26, again, the key 10 being still closed, the start relay 16 is energized and substantially the same cycle of operations is repeated for the next signal.

Keg/board transmission.

In transmitting from the usual typewriter keyboard, the desired key is pressed which causes the actuation of one or more of a plurality of contacts. These contacts are connected on one side to the distributor 8 through the switch 3, which has been thrown meanwhile to the keyboard position. Simultaneously with operation of any key a common switch member is actuated which puts ground on the following circuit: from ground, through switch member 412 to control relay 7, wire 13, left armature of relay 5, left armature of relay 6, switch 3, wire 44, through the actuated contacts ofthe typewriter mechanism 1, through switch 3 to the proper ones of relays 1115. As relay 7 energizes it locks up through its right armature to battery, from ground at switch member d2. Right armature of relay 7 also prepares a circuit through relay 6 to ground, which circuit is closed when relay 6 is energized momentarily from contact 35 in distributer S as above mentioned. As relays 1115 lock up through relay 5 to ground, relay 5 pulls up. At its left armature it opens the circuit above mentioned through the contacts of the keyboard and at its right armature closes the circuit from the distributor through start relay 16 which pulls up and starts the rotation of arm 8 as before explained. As before, when arm 9 leaves segment 20 the start relay holding circuit is broken so that the holding circuit for start magnet 30 is open. When arm 9 contacts with segment 35, a circuit through one winding of relay 6 is established, which pulls up its right armature and breaks the holding circuit for relays 11 -15 through relay 5, and establishes a holding circuit for itself as above mentioned. Left armature of relay 6, pulling up, opens the circuit through contacts of keyboard so that if the typewriter key has been held down the same signal is not set up again on the relays 11-15.-

Break signaling device.

When a receiving operator wishesto signal to a transmitting station for one reason or another, he'opens the line at his station and when arm 9 contacts with segment 37 the following circuit is closed: battery, segment 21, segment 37, wire 88, winding'of relay 17, to ground at left armature of line relay 28, which armature is back since the loop is opened.

Relay 17 energizing pulls up and at its left armature opens a circuit for the start relay 16 and at its right armature puts battery on a signal device 41. a

Selection of desired stations for eonMn/unz'e'ation.

Having described the vmanner in which messages are transmitted, I will now de-.

scribe the means whereby the operator at any station may selectively establish a line of communication with a desired station.-

At each station there is provided a special transmitting key 24, which is located in the line and adapted to transmit any desired number of impulses over the line. Since this system is adapted to transmit message combinations of five impulses, the maximum number of positive message impulses in a combination which could be sent over the line would be five. Therefore, it is arranged that no receiving selective mechanism will be actuated to close on less than, say, seven or eight impulses. In case there are many stations on the line the number of impulses necessary to select each station is arranged accordingly. The operator works key 24 to send the desired number of impulses which causes the right armature line relay 28 to oscillate and alternately open and close the following circuit: ground, right armature of line relay 28, to wire 46, through relays 47 and 48. Relay 47 releases slowly, whereas relay 48 is quick acting. In response to a series of rapidly recurring impulses the relay 48 is adapted to operate a ste ping pawl 49, to move ratchet wheel 50. elay 47 at the first impulse of a series pulls up, holding pawl 51 and holds ratchet wheel 50 in any position to which it is moved until the end of a series. In response to the proper signal an arm 52 is moved around until it contacts with and closes a switch member 53 which causes ground to be put on relay 54. This relay pulls up two armatures, the left closing a locking circuit for relay 54 through to ground at switch 55, the right closing a circuit leading from armature of'line relay 28 to the receiving distributer segment 56. Ratchet wheel. 50 when released is moved to normal position by a spring and returns to normal as soon as the selective series of impulses ceases,

since relay 47 deenergizes and releases pawl 51 from wheel 50. When the switch 53 is closed the circuit to the printer 57 .is established and message impulses are sent on the line. I I

Reeei/m'ng messages.

To receive and record messages a key 58 is moved so as to connect wire 59 with left armature of line relay 28. Wire 59 is connected to segment 60 of-the receiving dis tributer 61. As soon as arm 9 of transmitting distributer 8 leaves segment 31 the loop is opened, causing theleft-handarma ture of line relay 28 to retract and put ground on start magnet 62, over segments 60 and 63' and wire 59. The arm of the distributer 61 then rotates and as it contacts with the various segments leading to the closes a circuit from battery to a magnet (not shown) in the printing which restores the parts to normal and performs other suitable functions.

To disconnect the reeeicingstation.

Transmitting operator works key 24 to sendthe proper numbers of impulses over the line and move arm 52 around to cause the actuation of a switch member 66 and open the holding circuit for relay 54. Switch member 66 is actuated by a pivoted lever 67, which is moved by contact with arm 52 to open switch 66.

Lever 67 is so pivoted that on the upstroke of arm 52 the switch 66 is opened but is not affected on the down-stroke of the arm 52. As relay 54 denergizes, the line to the printer at its right armature is opened, whereby the printer is disassociated from the line. Two additional switches are provided, switch 68 to closethe circuit to relay 54in response to a signal to which all the stations respond and switch 55 to open the holding circuit for relay 54 after it has been energized by the signal just mentioned.

We thus have a system in which a selector is provided at each station responsive to special signals to associate the line with the transmitting apparatus, which selector is completely under the control of the one operator. The mechanical details of the selector may readily be varied to meet different operating conditions without departin from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is: t

1. A signaling system comprising a line, a plurality of stations having character recording devices associated with but normally disconnected from said line, a rotary distributer at each of said stations, means at each of said stations selectively and au-' tomatically to establish a line of communication between said station and any of the character recording devices through the instrumentality of said distributer, whereby a message may be transmitted to and recorded by said selected character recording device under the control of a single oper ator.

2. A signaling system comprising a line, a plurality of stations having character recording devices thereat and adapted to be associated with but normally disconnected from said line,.impulse transmitting means at each of said stations adapted to transmit selective combinations of impulses over acter recording device, responsive to certain of said selected combinations of line im pulses to control said distributer and establish a line of communication between said station and said character recording device, whereby a message may be transmitted to and recorded by said device under the control of a single operator.

8. A signaling system comprising a line, a plurality of stat-ions associated with said line, message-transmitting and recording apparatus at each station, electro-mechanical step-by-step mechanism under the control of the operator at each station selectively to establish a line of communication with any other station, to hold'said line of communication closed while the message is being recorded, and to disconnect said station from the line. at the end of the period of message transmission.

4:. A signaling system comprising a line, a plurality of stations associated with said line, message-recording andjtransmitting apparatus at each station, said recording apparatus being normally unresponsive to impulses over the line, selective means at each station responsive to predetermined groups of impulses adapted to put the recording apparatus atothat station in con dition to respond to line impulses, to hold said apparatus in such condition while the message is being recorded, and to disconnect said recording apparatus from the line,

and means under the control of a sending PAUL M. RAINEY. 

